West Texas A&M Buffs seek rare back-to-back wins

The West Texas A&M Buffs will be out to secure a win Saturday at home against Angelo State.

However, along with that victory, the Buffs would like to end a trend heading into their final stretch of LSC games.

For the past six games WT has gone back and forth trading wins and losses.

Thanks to a nine-point road victory last Tuesday over Abilene Christian the Buffs (5-6 in conference) look Saturday night for their first back-to-back wins since Dec. 29 and Jan. 3.

“We haven’t really planned that,” said a joking WT coach Rick Cooper of winning then losing every other game for the past six games. “I’d really like to stop that. Although it’s better than losing, losing, losing, losing.”

This will be the second time ASU and WT have played this season, although the first meeting was so long ago don’t look for that result to impact this game. On Dec. 1, the Buffs dominated Angelo State, 73-44, in San Angelo. Five WT players scored in double figures, led by senior post Donald Sims’ double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds).

Angelo State grabbed WT’s attention with its last game, an 87-81 overtime loss to Eastern New Mexico. The Buffs lost to ENMU at home one week ago before rebounding with a 78-69 road win over ACU.

“I don’t have any complaints the way we responded to Eastern New Mexico beating us,” Cooper said. “It’s not good we got beat. It’s good we didn’t stay beat.

“I am very concerned about this Angelo State game. They are just a dangerous team because they are a good team. They shoot the ball well. I have an enormous respect for Fred (ASU coach Fred Rike). Fred is a longtime friend and a very good basketball coach. He will have them ready to play.”

Rike is a former Tulia High School and WT player.

Angelo State features a balanced offense with five scorers in double figures led by senior guard Antonio Dye’s 11.9 average.

Sims is the Buffs’ mainstay ranking second in the LSC in rebounding at 8.5 per game and leading the Buffs in scoring at 13.9.